Do You Know the Difference between a Power Strips and Surge Protectors?

Knowing the difference between these two devices can save you a great deal of time and frustration dealing with broken appliances because of a power surge. These devices allow you to connect multiple devices into one outlet, but they are not the same thing. Understanding the differences between the two will help you choose the electrical accessory that is best for your needs.

Power Strips

Power strips were created to enable one electrical outlet to share power with more than one piece of electrical equipment. These strips are ideal for devices that are not going to be put at risk of being damaged due to unexpected power surges. Essentially, power strips are a convenient way to use multiple devices at one time without the added protection against power spikes. This accessory isn’t going to protect your expensive television or fancy computer if there is an electrical storm.

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors offer more protection than power strips. Like power strips, multiple devices can be plugged into them. The difference is that these devices are protected from an overloaded circuit as the result of too much voltage. Voltage can increase due to power spikes caused by natural occurrences like lightning strikes, but can also happen when appliances with big motors are running at the same time and drawing a lot of power (think washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, etc.).

Choosing the Right Protection

The electrical devices you have in your home are not cheap. It’s obvious that you’d want to protect your investment, but how do you know you’ve chosen the correct surge protector. At My La Mirada Electrician Hero, we can help you choose the best surge protection for your needs. Some homes may just need to purchase several regular surge protectors for the best protection. However, in homes with numerous large electrical devices, whole-house surge protection may be the better option.

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My La Mirada Electrician Hero is an electrician referral service provider that works in partnership with established, licensed, & highly rated electricians based in La Mirada, Ca. We reserve the right to refer any service call to a qualified La Mirada electrician partner.